Video: Riot police charge G20 protesters singing O Canada in Toronto

It's a scene that's sure to anger at least some Canadians who care about the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression.

A crowd of G20 protesters gathered at Queen Street and Spadina Avenue in Toronto sing the national anthem, as riot police look on.

As the protesters peacefully wrap up their rendition of O Canada, police charge.

The incident was captured in the following video.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

Comments

15 Comments

pay attention!

Jun 27, 2010 at 8:17pm

fascists

Enfuriated

Jun 27, 2010 at 8:37pm

HAHAHA this is obscene!!! these police should all lose their jobs. It's become common knowledge that the powers at large are working hard to impose a global police state. Here is a perfect example.. this is canada.. NOT EVEN ONE PERSON WAS THREATENING THE POLICE!... a billion dollars for a bunch of goofs to waste time.. and it was OBVIOUSLY A STAGED EVENT with the 2 burning cars.. abandoned.. additionally, it's painfully obvious that the violent protesters are hired to create a reason for the police presence..

Strategis

Jun 27, 2010 at 9:41pm

The government of Canada has wasted $2 billion on ridiculous overblown security operations in just two months this year already. These costs are obscene, and cannot be justified. Also, the cost to our civil liberties is even worse. I propose a bill be tabled making any government meeting or government sponsored event where the security costs exceed $25 million be held on offshore army bases or on military ships in international waters. If the international elite want to have their undemocratic staged meetings, then it should be on their own turf, not on Canadian soil, or on any soil where democracy is effective. They could just hold teleconferences, and skip the pretense that they represent the people of the world, illicit any respect from anyone, or have any legitimacy.

Strategis

Jun 28, 2010 at 5:56am

Read more about the Orwellian, sadistic torment of the detainees in the massive battery cage facility which was specially created to repeatedly strip search, refrigerate, torment, intimidate and humiliate the peaceful protestors, tourists and reporters:
Charlie Veitch: Arrested, Tortured, Caged by Toronto Fascist Police at G8/G20
http://www.infowars.com/charlie-veitch-arrested-tortured-caged-by-toront...

John Stevenson

Jun 28, 2010 at 7:54am

Uh... what were the protesters doing down on Queen St., anyway? So what this video implies is that if you go down to an area where cars were being torched and store front windows were being smashed and provoke the police, then they'll disperse the crowd? No kidding.

I lived on Queen West for half a decade before moving out to Vancouver, and witnessing the actions of the violent faction of the protesters is nothing short of obscene. Seeing what they did to Queen St, which is probably the most liberal, progressive neighborhood in the city and intimidating it with violence was absolutely revolting. I was lightly supportive to the actions of the protest movement before this past weekend, now I'll never condone them.

Ottawaguy

Jun 28, 2010 at 9:06am

At about 18 seconds in to the video you can hear what sounds like a popping sound. I'm thinking it's either the cops hitting their shields (you hear a similar noise repeated once they charge) or it's an air gun (I believe this is how they shoot the pepper spray packages). Anyone know?

CrazyCabbie

Jun 28, 2010 at 9:35am

Re: The burning cop-car 'set-up' comment
I've seen a few burning cars in my life, but this weekend on the news is the FIRST time I've ever seen people NOT being moved a safe minimum distance away. I agree it was likely a set-up as an attempt to justify the excessive security costs. Did anyone notice if the 'black bloc' groups were wearing police issue footwear?

X

Jun 28, 2010 at 9:41am

fas ·cism /?[fash-iz-uhm]

–noun
1.
( sometimes initial capital letter ) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
2.
( sometimes initial capital letter ) the philosophy, principles, or methods of fascism.
3.
( initial capital letter ) a fascist movement, esp. the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.

NO WHERE IN THIS DOES IT SAY
- a cop doing his job

DSDL

Jun 28, 2010 at 7:03pm

If they played the whole video from start to finish you would see they were all allowed to leave.

Meghan

Jun 28, 2010 at 7:53pm

I know if I were in front of a line of Cops in riot gear, I sure wouldn't skip my way in front of them and sit down encouraging others to get closer.